Derrick structure



Feb. 24. 1925.

W. S. ESTES DERRICK STRUCTURE Filed May 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3nv2nom weal/(er 5. (Estes,

attozncqdz Web. 24?, 1925.

W. S. ESTES DERR I CK STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1925 gnva'ntoz waiker S. (5665,

a51 m -m Patented Feb, 24, i925.

' WALKER S. ESTES, 01E TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

DERRICK STRUCTURE.

application filed may 3, 1923.

or header, to clamp or otherwise removably secure doublers or reinforcing legs to the derrick legs, when desired; and to provide means whereby the load carried by the derrick may-be quickly and easily shifted to the doubler legs, and vice versa.

The broad principle, of providing a derrick with a vertically movable top structure or header and doubler orreinforcing legs adapted to carry the entire load ofthe derrick, when desired, forms the subject-matter of my application Serial No. 629,689, filed April 3, 1923; and the present invention relates broadly. to means for, shifting the entire load from the derrick legs to the doublers, and vice-verse.

The particular improvements to be de scribed hereinafter are adaptable to use in connection with any derrick structure which at times is employed for light work, and at other times for heavy work; but the invention is especially designed for use in connection with wells, such as oil, gas and artesian wells, and the'construction will be particularly described herein as used in the oil and gas fields.

In the operation of drilling a well it is necessary to employ a very strong and heavy derrick, but when the drilling is completed a relatively light derrick is sufficient for pumping purposes. The most usual practice has been to originally employ a heavy and expensive derrick for the drilling operation, and to continue to use the samederrick for the light work of pumping until th derrick is no longer serviceable because of deterioration, etc., whereupon it is re plalged by an ordinary light pumping derric a In other instances, where the wind hazard is too great, it has been the practice to remove the heavy derrick upon completion of the drilling operation, and erect a pumping derrick in its place.

Serial No. 686,485.

It is obvious that either of the practices outlined above involves a vast waste of time, labor and money, and that great economics would be accomplished by some practical reinforcing means, so that a light pumping derrick would be originally in stalled, and which could be reinforced to render it sufficiently strong for the heavy work of drilling, and which would permit the removal of the reinforcing means upon completion of the drilling, thereby leaving the ordinary light pumping derrick. The reinforcing means, when removed, would be available for use in connection with other drilling operations, or for any other heavy work, such as to pull casing.

Prior to the present invention it has been suggested to use reinforcing legs extending the entire distance from the header to the base, and to secure these reinforcing legs to the derrick legs proper by means of bolts. The purpose, of course, of such a structure is to divide the load between the derrick legs and the reinforcing legs.-

In order to emphasize the advantages of the present invention, it may be well to briefly mention a few of the disadvantages of the reinforcing structure outlined above, which disadvantages render it entirely impractical for ordinary field operation.

If the reinforcing legs are to carry part of the load and the derrick legs are to carry part of the load, it is apparent that the reinforcing legs must be of exactly the same length as the derrick legs, and it is equally apparent that in actual operation the legs would very seldom, if ever, be of exactl the same length. Even if the legs are 0 the sam length, a slight distortion of the derrick legs or the reinforcing legs will vary their effectiie length, thereby losing to a large extent the function of dividing the load. Further, if the reinforcing leg is slightly longer than the derrick leg, it can not be applied, because of the fixed header. On the other hand. if the reinforcing leg is slightly shorter than the derrick leg it entirely loses its function of dividing the load, and becomes nothing more than a mere stiffener.

' Ordinarily reinforcing legs are built in sections, each section havin at its upper end a socket which is'adapte to receive the lower end of the section above. It will, be understood that to erect thes reinforcing legs each section must be raised and dropped Qil into its socket. \Vhen the top section is reached it cannot be applied without first disnmntling the top structure of the derrick; and to remove the top reinforcing leg sec tion the derrick top structure must be again dismantled, for it is impossible to lift the sections from their sockets on account of the fixed header.

For the purpose of securing the reinforcing legs to the derrick legs both legs were provided with holes adapted to receive bolts passing through both legs. Such a structure is highly impracticable in ordinary use, for it is apparent that for many reasons, such as the slightest distortion of either .leg, the holes would not properly align,

thereby rendering the securing means inoperative.

As hereinbefore stated, the broad principle of providing a derrick with a vertically movable top, structure or header, and doubler or reinforcing legs adapted to carry the entire load of the derrick, when desired, forms the subiect-matter of a separate application; and the present invention relates broadly to means for shifting the entire load from the derrick legs to the doubl'ers and vice versa.

I will now describe the structure which not only entirely eliminates the disadvantages of reinforcing legs used in connection with derricks having fixed headers, but which also provides an inexpensive, convenient and expeditious means for shifting the entire load of the derrick; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the upper portion of a derrick provided with the doublers and means for shifting the load; the view being taken from the interior of the derrick structure.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the header and one of the legs; the view being taken from the exterior of the derrick structure, and the derrick leg being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the upper portion of a derrick, and showing a modified form of means for shifting the load; the view being taken from the interior of the derrick structure.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the modified form of the apparatus; the view being taken from the exterior of the derrick structure, and the derrick leg being shown in dotted lines; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawin s more in detail, numeral 1 indicates the legs of any ordinary light derrick, the legs being preferably formed in sections, as usual, and

connected in any desired and ordinary manner. The legs are braced, of course, by a system of diagonal braces, girts, and usually vertical braces. It is to be understood that the body of the derrick structure may be of any desired type or construction, and, as the particular construction thereof forms nopart of the present invention, the foregoing brief description will be sufficient.

In the ordinary derrick construction the header is fixed to the derrick body so thatit is immovable with respect to the body without dismantling the header. In -the present construction, however, the header is mounted for vertical sliding movement with respect to the derrick body.

Obviously, the sliding connection between the header and derrick body may be accomplished by a great variety of means and the specific means shown herein is, 'therefore, to be considered merely as illustrative. I will now describe the specific means shown herein.

The header is indicated generally by numeral 2, and it may be of the conventional form employed in steel derricks, or it may be of any other form preferred. Attached to the header 2 are the relatively short leg sections 3, and these leg sections are provided with one or more slots 4,.three of the slots being illustrated in the drawings. Numeral 5 indicates any ordinary gusset plate to which the diagonal braces 6 are attached; the lower portion of the gusset plate being riveted to the upper end of the leg sections in the usual manner. The upper portions of the gusset plates are not fixed to the relatively short leg sections 3, but have a sliding connection therewith. This sliding connection is accomplished by providing the upper portion of the gusset plates with one or more pins which pass througl'i the slots 4 provided in theshort leg sections for that purpose, and are socured to the gusset plates. The pins may be in the form of bolts or rivets and are indicated by numeral 7. It is thus apparent that the header, or top structure of the derrick, is free to be moved vertically to the extent of the length of the slots 4, and, of course, the slots may be of any desired lengtlr.

As previously mentioned herein, the specific means for slidably mounting the header is for purposes of illustration only, for it is readily apparent that numerous other means may be devised for accomplishing the same purpose. For instance, the derrick legs may be slidably connected directly to the header structure, thereby eliminating the relatively short leg sections; or, instead of providing the short leg sections with slot-s, it may be preferred to provide slots in the gusset plates and have the en- IOU tenure gaging pins carried by the short leg sections; or the gusset plates may be fixed to the relatively short leg sections and have a sliding connection with the next lower leg sections, or the pins and slots may be eliminated entirely by the use of some socket construction which would support the header in such manner that it would be free to be raised or lowered whenever desired. These few modifications are mentioned merely to show that the specific structure may be varied in a great many ways, and to emphasize the fact that any manner of slidably mounting the header relative to the derrick proper is contemplated.

The doublers, or reinforcing legs, are indicated by numeral 8, and they may be removably attached to the derrick legs in any desired manner, though I prefer to connect the doubler and derrick legs by some form of clamp, such as illustrated in my previous application Serial No. 629.689, referred to hereinbefore. By the use of some form of clamp I entirely eliminate the serious dis advantages resulting from the use of bolts in connecting the doublers and derrick legs.

I also prefer not to employ any special means for spacing the doublers from the derrick legs, and in lieu of any special spacing means I prefer that the doublers abut against the ordinary bolts used in derrick :onstruction, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

Obviously, the doubler and derrick legs will preferably be supported on a common base, but the particular mounting of the doublers and legs may be of any desired arrangement, either in the manner illustrated in my previous application Serial No. 629,685, or in any other manner. As the base structure and. the mounting of the doublers and legs thereon form no part of the present invention, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate any particular construction.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the header or top structure 2 is provided with a plurality of heavy screws-9, screw threadedly engaging heavy flanges on the header, and being swiveled to shoes 10. These shoes 10 are provided with grooves 11,- or equivalent means, for engaging over the upper end of the doublers 8. Of course, the particular number of these heavy screws employed is entirely immaterial so far as this invention is concerned, it being only necessary to provide one screw for each doubler; but I prefer to employ two shoes and two screws for each'doubler, and I have, therefore, illustrated such an arran ement. The doublers are, of course, prefera ly formed of steel angles, and a shoe engages over each of the walls forming the angle, thereb producing a symmetrical arrangement. f course; it

is only necessary to have a shoe engaging over one of the walls, or, if preferred, an angular shoe could be employed, and adapted to engage over the corner of the angle. In such a construction the screws would be mounted in each corner of the header flange.

It will be understood that the means for raising and lowering the header could be carried by the doublers and operatively engage the header, instead of being carried by the header and operatively engaging the doublers.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus will be obvious from the foregoing description. \Vhen the derrick is to be employed for light work, such as pumping, the header will be in its lowered position, so that the ends of relatively short legs 3 abut against the derrick legs 1, as illustrated in Figure 1, whereby the derrick legs carry the entire load. Now if heavy work is to be performed, such as drilling or pulling tubing or casing, the doublers are applied, and the upper ends thereof engage in the grooves provided in the shoes 10. Now by setting up on the screws 9 the header will be elevated so that the relatively short legsfii and the derrick legs 1 are no longer in ried by the derrick legs, whereupon thedoublers are salvaged, and the original light pumping derrick is left in place for the pumping operation. When the doublers have been removed from the derrick they are ready for use in any other drilling operation; and, of course, they are also available for further use on the same derrick when it is again to be employed for heavy work.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the successful operation of the apparatus does not depend on any exact length of the doublers relative to the length of the derrick legs. For suppose the doublers are shorter than the derrick legs, then it is only necessary to set up on the screws until the shoes engage over the doublers, and then by further rotation of the screws the header will be lifted and the entire load will be shifted to the doublers. On the other hand, if the doublers are longer than the derrick legs, the operation will be the same, except that it will not be necessary to move the screws longitudinally the same distance as before, in order to shift the load. In other words, any difference in the length of the doublers, within certain limits, of course, has no effect on the successful operation of the apparatus, for any changes in length will be compensated by the screws.

The present invention relates broadly to means for shifting the load from the derrick legs to the doublers, and, of course, the invention is by no means limited to the specilic forms illustrated herein, for it is ob vious that the invention is susceptible to a great variety of modifications; and it is' neither necessary nor desirable that all the different means for accomplishing the sameend be illustrated and described herein. However, the scope of the invention may be better understood if one of the many pos sible variations should be disclosed herein, and I have, therefore, illustrated one modification, which will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figures 4, 5 and 6, it will be noted that the upperedge of the doubler 8 is inclined upwardly from the apex of the angle, as indicated by numeral 12; that is, the upper edge of'each wall of the angle forming the doubler is inclined upwardly and outwardly. Slid ably mounted on each of these inclined surfaces is a shoe 13 having a groove M therein similar in construction to the shoes 10 previously described. A screw bolt 15, or equivalent means, is connected to each shoe, and the screw threaded end of the bolt asses through a lug, flange or the like, indicated by numeral 16, and threaded on the outer end of the bolt is a nut 17.

The operation of the device will be obvious. The header 2 rests directly on the top of theshoes, and as these shoes are drawn outwardly along the inclined edge of the doubler the header will be raised by the resultant wedging action, thereby lifting the relatively short leg sections 3 from abutting relation with the derrick legs, and hence shifting the entire load to the doublers.

It is thus seen that the wedging action described above produces exactly the same result as the screw action previously described; and it will be understood that the invention, in its broad aspect, contemplates any kind of means for shifting the load from the derrick legs to the doublers, and vice. versa. And it will also be understood that the screw means, wedging means, or any equivalent means, need not be employed at the top of the doubler, but could be employed at the base thereof, or at any intermediate point p in the doubler; the sole purpose being to provide some means, no matter where located, for shifting the load from the derrick legs to the doublers.

From the foregoing description it Will be apparent that I have devised a derrick construction whereby an ordinary light derrick may be employed for light work, such as pumping, and whereby doublers may be applied to the derrick and the entire load be quickly and easily shifted to the doublers when heavy work is to be performed. It will also be apparent that the construction I have provided is inexpensive in manuan outer leg, and means for shifting lecture and yet is highly efficient and practical in operation, and will result in great economies in the oil and gas fields.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what I now believe to be the best embodiment of the invention, but I do not wish to be understood thereby as limiting myself or the scopeof the invention, as many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention; all such I aim to include in the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A derrick, including an inner leg and an outer leg, and means for shifting the load from one leg to the other.

2. A derrick, including an inner leg and the load from the inner leg to the outer leg.

3. A derrick, including an inner leg and an outer leg, and means for shifting the load from the outer leg to the inner leg.

4. A derrick, including an inner leg and an outer leg, and means for shifting the load from the inner leg to the outer leg, and vice versa.

5. In a derrick, a body structure, a top structure, said top structure being vertically movable with respect to the body structure, doublers adapted to be applied to the derrick legs, and means for shifting the load from the derrick legs to the doublers.

6. In a derrick, a body structure, a top structure, said top structure being vertically movable with respect to the body structure, doublers adapted to be applied to the derrick legs, and means operatively connected with the doublers and top structure for raising the top structure, whereby the load is shifted from the derrick legs to the doublers.

7. In a derrick, a body structure, atop structure, said top structure being vertically movable with respect to the body structure, doublers adapted to be applied to the derrick legs, and means carried by the top structure adapted to engage the doublers, said means adapted to elevate the top structure to shift the load from the derrick legs to the doublers, and vice versa.

8. In a.derrick, a body structure, a top structure, said top structure being verti' cally movable with respect to the body structure, doublers adapted to be applied to the derrick legs, and means adapted to engage the top structure and doublers to elevate the top structure to shift the load to the doublers, said means being operated by a screw action.

9. A derrick, including a vertically movable header, doublers associated with said header, and screws carried by one of said elements and operatively engaging the other 130 loo Ill)

mama e element, whereby the header may be raised. or lowered to shift its load from the derrick to the doublers or vice versa,

10. A derrick, including a vertically movable header, doublers associated with said header, and screws carried by the header and engaging the doublers, whereby the header may be raised or lowered to shift its load from the derrick to the doublers or vice versa.

11. A derrick, including a vertically movable header, doublers associated with said header, screws carried by one of said elements, and shoes carried by said screws and adated to engage the other element.

12. A. derrick, including a vertically movable header, doublers associated with said header, shoes adapted to engage over the upper edge of said doubler-s, and screws carried by the header and connected with the shoes.

13. In a derrick, abody structure, a top structure, said top structure being vertically movable with respect to the body structure, doublers removably connected to .the derrick legs, a plurality of screws operatively mounted in said top structure, shoes engaging the upper edge of the doublers, the shoes being engaged by said screws,

14. A derrick, including a movable header, doublers associated with said header,

and wedging means between the header and doublers for moving the header.

15-. A derrick, including a movable header, doublers associated with the header, and means slidably mounted on one of said elements and engaging the other of said elements for moving the header, and means for moving said means longitudinally.

16. A derrick, including a vertically movable header, doublers associated with said header, an upper edge of the doublers being upwardly inclined, and means mounted on said inclined edges for raising and lowering the header.

17. A derrick, including a vertically movable header, doubler-s associated with said header, an upper edge of the doublers being upwardly inclined, shoes mounted on said inclined edges, and means for moving said shoes longitudinally for the purpose specified.

18. In a derrick, a body structure, a top structure, said top structure being vertically movable with respect to the body structure, doublers adapted to be applied to the derrick legs, and means engaging the top structure and doublers and adapted to elevate the top structure to shift the load to the doublers, said means functioning by a wedging action.

WALKER S. ESTES, 

